Jan 16, 2009, 13:27 GMT
Woking, Britain - Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton on Friday presented the new McLaren-Mercedes car which he will be using for the new season, which begins in 72 days.
British Formula One World Champion driver Lewis Hamilton (R) and team mate Heikki Kovalainen (L) of Finland with the new Mc Claren Mercedes MP24 at the McClaren Technology Center in Surrey, Britain, 16 January 2009.EPA/ANDY RAIN
'Our aim are both titles, the drivers' championship, as well as the constructors',' team principal Ron Dennis said at the unveiling of the MP4-24 at the team's headquarters in Woking, Britain.
Although Hamilton won the drivers' championship last season Ferrari picked up the constructors' title, meaning McLaren have now not lifted the constructors' crown since 1998.
Hamilton, who only managed to secure the drivers' title by overtaking German Timo Glock on the final curve of the final race in Brazil to take the extra point he needed to win the championship, said that he knew there was pressure on him.
'I know that there is a huge responsibility on me and that I have to lead by example.'
McLaren continue in 2009 with an unchanged driver line-up of Hamilton and Finlands Heikki Kovalainen but with a new car that has had to incorporate many new designs because of the significant rule changes for 2009.
Slick tyres are allowed once more, while the MP4-24 will have reduced aerodynamics - with a lower and wider front wing and a taller and narrower rear wing - as well as KERS, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System which harnesses energy while the car is braking.
This is redeployed to provide extra power during acceleration, which F1 organizers hope will make overtaking easier.
The measures were agreed by the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) to reduce costs for this season by up to 30 per cent, making savings somewhere in the region of a billion euros (1.35 billion dollars).
The MP4-24 will undergo its first session of testing next week in Portugal at the Algarve Motor Park and with in-season circuit testing now not permitted, this will be followed by further testing in Jerez and Barcelona.
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